Sometimes all you can do while watching the “World Wide Sports Leader” is just sit back and laugh. Some of the opinions spouted by some of their personalities are so clueless they don’t even deserve a response. However, sometimes, one of them says something so asinine, so ridiculous, so moronic that it must be pointed out to others and the question must be asked, how did this guy get hired as an analyst. Today is one of those days.
Merril Hoge played eight seasons as a running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Previously he has been outspoken in calling Kurt Warner “uneducated” for not wanting to put his children in football due to fear of concussions and has testified by for the House Judiciary Committee on Brain injuries. He has also stepped forward to say that the game of football is unfairly targetted due to concussions and brain injuries.
Today he gave us clear cut, undisputable evidence that he suffered one too many (or perhaps a few too many) concussions in his NFL career. Speaking on ESPN2’s program First Take, about the upcoming NFL draft Hoge said, “I would take Michael Sam over Jadaveon Clowney.”
The statement is so ridiculous, it doesn’t even need explaining why Hoge is so wrong. Anyone who follows the draft can tell you that Clowney is a consensus first round, top 10, NFL prospect. Most have him in the top five, and many see him as the potential best player in the 2014 NFL Draft. Sam meanwhile, is seen as a tweener. While he was a productive college player, it is unclear if he is big enough to be a defensive end for a 4-3 defensive team, or fast enough to be a linebacker in a 3-4 defensive scheme. As such the SEC defensive player of the year is likely a second or thrd day draft pick, somewhere between the third and sixth rounds.
Hoge later tried to clarify after the show, via his twitter account. Apparently he meant to say that he would take Sam in the fifth before Clowney in the first, and that he really meant to say he would rather have Khalil Mack than Clowney. I don’t know about you, but I’m personally not buying it.
Lets remember this is a guy who once said that Brian Brohm would be a better quarterback than Aaron Rodgers, and came out earlier this week saying that Johnny Manziel will be the biggest bust of the NFL Draft if taken in the first round.
Sorry Hoge, but the next time the NFL needs to look into the long-term effects of concussions, I hope they present you as Exhibit A.
…. And thats the last word.
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter – @LastwordBKerr. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter –@LastWordOnSport – and “liking” our Facebook page.
Interested in writing for LWOS? We are looking for enthusiastic, talented writers to join our Football writing team. Visit our “Write for Us” page for very easy details in how you can get started today!
Football fans…check out our two partnered NFL podcasts – Thursday Night Tailgate Radio and Overtime Ireland. Both shows bring you interesting commentary, critical analysis and fantastic guests including former and current NFL players, coaches and personalities.
Main Photo:
